Strain (injury)

Strain
Other names	Muscle strain, pulled muscle, torn muscle
Two images of the same strain to the hamstring and associated bruising. One of the pictures was shot through a mirror.
Specialty	Emergency medicine
Symptoms	Bruise, swelling, redness and soreness
Causes	Excessive stress and/or repeated injury on a muscle

A strain is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both. The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain.^[1] Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and partially tears, under more physical stress than it can withstand, often from a sudden increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of an activity. Strains most commonly occur in the foot, leg, or back. Immediate treatment typically includes four steps abbreviated as R.I.C.E.: rest, ice, compression, elevation.